Have you lost money to a scam? Watch for scammers who say they can help
Scammers pose as recovery services or helpers to victims of prior scams and steal additional money by promising to return lost funds.
How it works
After you lose money to a scam, a fake recovery agent contacts you by phone, email, or text claiming they can get your money back. They ask you to pay an upfront fee, provide personal details, or wire funds to cover supposed recovery costs. They exploit your frustration and desire to recover losses.
Red flags to watch for
- Unsolicited contact from someone offering to recover your lost money
- Request for upfront payment or fee to start recovery
- Pressure to act fast or pay before a deadline
- Demand for personal information, bank details, or wire transfer
- Claims of guaranteed recovery with no real evidence
What to do
Do not pay anyone claiming they can recover scam losses; government agencies and legitimate recovery services do not charge upfront fees. If you lost money to a scam, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your bank or payment service. Hang up on unsolicited calls and verify any recovery service by contacting an agency directly using the phone number on its official website.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.